History of The Bun Penny

The Bun Penny is located on Manor Way, which was originally a medieval
track joining the area’s agricultural settlements with the villages
of Tichfield and Stubbington. The origins of our building go back to
medieval times and by the 17th Century it was a farmhouse. In the 19th
Century there were attempts to develop Lee on The Solent into a holiday
resort with the arrival of the railway, a pier and major developments
along the seafront. Around this time the farmhouse was converted into
the Victoria Hotel. Later in the 20th Century the building was refurbished
to the one we see today. The name dates from this period, as during
demolition of some outbuildings to create the car park, a quantity of
Bun Pennies were discovered.

The Bun Penny, first minted in 1860, was a milestone in British coinage.
Taking its name from its depiction of a flattering portrait of the young
Queen Victoria, with her hair in a bun, the 1860 Bun Penny was important
in a number of ways. It introduced bronze for lower denomination UK
coins (previously copper). It also featured a seated Britannia facing
right on the reverse and set the dimensions of a penny, both features
that remained on the penny until 1970. Bun Pennies were minted every
year from 1860 to 1894 and during that period Victoria’s head
was changed subtly as she aged. There are also changes to Britannia,
her shield and the light house, all of which makes these coins of interest
to collectors. Whilst pennies were minted throughout the rest of Victoria’s
reign, in these her portrait has lost the bun and she is shown wearing
a veil.

It is rather fitting that our pub with its long heritage, should be
named after a coin of such historical importance. As far as we know,
there is only one other pub named the Bun Penny in the UK.